牛磺酸对乳鼠心肌细胞内钙浓度的影响

研究低氧、复氧对乳鼠心肌细胞内钙离子浓度的影响,以及牛磺酸在模拟心肌缺血/再灌注(I/R)过程中对细胞内钙的调节作用。采用SD大鼠乳鼠进行心肌细胞培养,建立模拟I/R模型。以Fluo-4/AM荧光指示剂负载,应用激光共聚焦显微镜技术(confocal laser scanning microscope,CLSM)检测心肌细胞钙离子浓度的变化。对照组心肌细胞内钙离子荧光强度(23.71±2.37U)较低;低氧180 min后复氧即刻,钙离子荧光强度开始增加(57.52±8.31U),复氧180 min后钙离子荧光强度(71.13±4.74U)显著增高(P<0.01vs对照组)。而牛磺酸组细胞内钙离子荧光强度较模拟I/R组显著降低[(42.42±4.17U)vs(71.13±4.74U),P<0.01]。心肌细胞缺血/缺氧导致Ca2+超载;模拟I/R Ca2+超载加剧,而牛磺酸有明显减轻心肌细胞模拟I/R时Ca2+超载的作用。     

脱氢紫堇碱对正常和低氧豚鼠心肌细胞内钙的影响

目的 :探讨脱氢紫堇碱 (dehydeocorydaline,DHC)及维拉帕米 (verapamil,Ver)对豚鼠心肌细胞内游离钙浓度([Ca2 + ] i)变化的影响。方法 :采用离体豚鼠心脏Langendorff法灌注 ,用荧光指示剂方法 (Fure 2 /AM)标记心肌([Ca2 + ] i)变化。观察低氧后心肌 [Ca2 + ] i 的变化。结果 :①正常氧状态心肌 [Ca2 + ] i 均值为 (1 2 0 .5± 8.3)nmol/L(n =2 0 ) ;②正常氧条件下 ,DHC、Ver均使心肌 [Ca2 + ] i 明显下降。 (3)低氧状态下 ,心肌 [Ca2 + ] i 增加与缺氧时间(程度 )直线相关 (r=0 .98)。④DHC对低氧后心肌 [Ca2 + ] i 增加明显减缓。结论 :DHC在正常氧、低氧条件下阻止心肌细胞内钙超载 ,我们认为DHC可能提高心肌细胞的自我保护作用     

腺苷对缺氧/复氧心肌细胞的保护作用

本研究旨在探讨腺苷 (adenosine ,ADO)对缺氧 /复氧 (hypoxia/reoxygenation ,H/R)心肌细胞的保护作用及其分子机制。将原代培养的新生大鼠心肌细胞分成H/R对照组和ADO (1 0 μmol/L)保护组。用倒置相差显微镜观察心肌细胞的生长状态。检测两组培养基质乳酸脱氢酶 (LDH)活性和心肌细胞Ca2 + 和丙二醛 (MDA)浓度。用ELISA法检测肿瘤坏死因子 (TNF α)的表达 ,并用凝胶电泳迁移率改变法 (EMSA)测定核因子 (NF κB)结合活性。所得结果如下 :(1)心肌细胞H/R培养后皱缩、变圆 ,伪足减少 ,ADO组心肌细胞的形态变化小于对照组 ;(2 )ADO减少缺氧和复氧期间心肌细胞LDH的漏出 (bothP <0 0 1) ;(3 )ADO降低缺氧和复氧期间心肌细胞内的Ca2 +浓度 (bothP <0 0 1) ;(4)ADO降低缺氧和复氧期间心肌细胞MDA浓度 (bothP <0 0 1) ;(5 )ADO抑制缺氧和复氧期间TNF α的表达 (bothP <0 0 1) ;(6)ADO抑制缺氧和复氧期间心肌细胞NF κB结合活性 (bothP <0 0 1)。以上结果提示 :(1)外源性ADO可减轻心肌细胞的H/R损伤 ;(2 )外源性ADO抑制H/R期间心肌细胞TNF α的表达 ;(3 )外源性ADO可能通过抑制心肌细胞NF κB结合活性下调TNF α的表达     

HOE642对减轻缺氧／复氧致未成熟兔心肌细胞内钙超载的作用

目的观察Na+/H+交换抑制剂HOE642（Cariporide）对缺氧／再复氧前后未成熟兔心肌细胞内游离钙离子浓度(［Ca2+］i）的影响,探讨HOE642对未成熟心肌保护机制。方法6枚新西兰幼兔心脏,用酶解法分离成单个未成熟兔心肌细胞悬液,每份细胞悬液均随机分为基础组、对照组和实验组,基础组未经缺氧直接测量细胞内Ca2+及心肌酶含量（CK、LDH）,而后两组均经受缺氧60min,再复氧30min后测量,其中实验组于缺氧时加入HOE642（1μmol／L）。用Flou-3／AM标记,激光扫描共聚焦显微镜测定单个未成熟免心肌细胞内游离钙浓度。另测定三组心肌细胞悬液中心肌酶含量（CK、LDH）。结果缺氧／再复氧后对照组未成熟兔心肌细胞内［Ca2+］i（2814±236/1375±102）及心肌酶漏出量明显高于缺氧前基础值(P＜0.01);再复氧后HOE642处理组心肌细胞内［Ca2+］i较缺氧前基础值增加不显著（1446±128/1375±102,P>0.05);而较未用药对照组明显减少（1446±128／2814±236,P<0.01）。而HOE642处理组细胞悬液心肌酶漏出量较基础值有所增加,但其相差不显著,而较对照组有心肌酶漏出量明显减少,两者相差非常显著（P＜0．01）。说明HOE642对缺氧／再复氧后未成熟兔心肌细胞内游离钙超载具有明显的抑制作用。结论HOE642对未成熟心肌的保护机制可能是抑制心肌细胞内游离钙超载引起的心肌缺血／再灌注损伤。     

低氧后处理诱导的低氧诱导因子-1α表达上调减轻H9c2心肌细胞低氧/复氧损伤北大核心CSCD

本文旨在探讨低氧后处理(hypoxic postconditioning)对低氧/复氧(hypoxia/reoxygenation,H/R)所致的心肌细胞损伤以及低氧诱导因子-1α(hypoxia inducible factor-1α,HIF-1α)表达的影响,并分析二者之间可能的关系。利用H9c2心肌细胞株建立低氧/复氧和低氧后处理模型,通过测定细胞存活率、细胞培养液中乳酸脱氢酶(lactate dehydrogenase,LDH)的活性及caspase-3活性来观察低氧/复氧造成的H9c2细胞的损伤,用Westernblot检测H9c2细胞内HIF-1α的蛋白水平,用real-timePCR检测细胞内HIF-1α的mRNA水平。结果显示,低氧后处理提高了低氧/复氧H9c2细胞的存活率,降低了LDH及caspase-3活性。同时,低氧后处理增加了H9c2细胞内HIF-1α的蛋白水平。预先利用HIF-1α脯氨酸羟化酶抑制剂DMOG上调HIF-1α的蛋白水平后,由低氧/复氧导致的H9c2细胞的损伤明显减轻,其效应与低氧后处理完全一致。对H9c2细胞内HIF-1α蛋白水平与细胞存活率进行相关性分析,结果显示二者呈显著正相关(r=0.743,P<0.01);而运用siRNA方法抑制细胞内HIF-1α基因表达后,显著削弱了低氧后处理减轻低氧/复氧细胞损伤的效应。以上结果提示,HIF-1α表达上调是低氧后处理减轻细胞低氧/复氧损伤的机制之一。     

番茄红素对大鼠乳鼠心肌细胞缺氧复氧的保护作用以及其机制

目的:探讨番茄红素对心肌细胞缺氧复氧的保护作用以及其分子机制。方法:采用原代培养心肌细胞建立缺氧/复氧损伤模型,实验分8组:正常对照组,H/R组,H/R+番茄红素(1,2,4,8,16,32μmol/L)剂量组。观察各组细胞经H/R损伤后,细胞内天冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、肌酸激酶(CK)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和丙二醛(MDA)含量的变化情况,选择正常对照组,H/R组,最佳番茄红素剂量组做MTT分析细胞凋亡,Western检测TRL 4以及NF-κB的表达。结果:番茄红素(16,8,4,2μmol/L)剂量组可显著降低缺氧/复氧损伤心肌细胞内AST、CK、LDH释放量及MDA的生成,并能提高SOD活性。此外番茄红素可减少心肌细胞缺氧/复氧损伤后的心肌凋亡,减少TRL 4受体以及NF-κB的表达。结论:番茄红素具有抗缺氧/复氧损伤,保护心肌细胞的作用,其机制可能是通过抑制TRL 4通路来实现的。     

急性低氧对体外培养乳鼠心肌细胞肌红蛋白的影响

本实验观察了低氧、复氧时培养的乳鼠心肌细胞肌红蛋白（Ｍｂ）、ｃＡＭＰ、心肌收缩频率的变化以及磷酸二酯酶抑制剂茶碱和抑制肌质网上钙释放的普鲁卡因地低氧下心肌细胞Ｍｂ表达和心肌细胞收缩频率的影响。结果表明,随低氧时间的延长Ｍｂ增加,ｃＡＭＰ和心肌收缩下降,Ｍｂ、ｃＡＭＰ和心肌细胞收缩频率经复氧可以得到恢复。普鲁卡因使低氧时心肌细胞的收缩频率更漫和Ｍｂ的表达减弱;茶碱使低氧下心肌细胞的收缩频率和Ｍｂ的表     

Ca~(2+)信号在肿瘤坏死因子-α诱导心肌肥大PI3-K信号途径中的作用

目的:研究Ca2+信号在肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)诱导心肌细胞肥大PI3-K信号途径中的作用。方法:Lowry法测心肌细胞蛋白含量;计算机图像分析系统测心肌细胞体积;[3H]-亮氨酸掺入法测心肌细胞蛋白合成;Till阳离子测定系统观察胞内[Ca2+]i瞬变。结果:①TNF-α(100μg/L)明显诱导心肌细胞蛋白含量、蛋白合成及体积的增加,PI3-K特异性抑制剂LY294002(50μmol/L)明显抑制TNF-α诱导的心肌肥大,但对正常心肌细胞生长无影响。L型Ca2+通道阻断剂verapamil(1μmol/L)对TNF-α诱导的心肌肥大无明显影响。②TNF-α引起心肌细胞内钙离子浓度([Ca2+]i)瞬间变化幅度增高,LY294002明显降低TNF-α诱导的上述改变,L型Ca2+通道阻断剂verapamil(1μmol/L)对TNF-α引起的变化无明显影响。结论:PI3-K可能通过引起心肌细胞[Ca2+]i升高参与TNF-α诱导的心肌细胞肥大,但与L型Ca2+通道无关。     

G_(i/o)蛋白介导的信息转导通路在低氧预处理心肌保护中的作用

实验以低氧 3h后复氧期间心肌细胞的生存率和LDH的释放量为指标 ,观察Gi/o蛋白及其下游成分在低氧预处理 (hypoxicpreconditioning ,HP)心肌保护中的作用。与单纯低氧组相比 ,HP组 ( 2 5min低氧 30min复氧作为HP)细胞生存率增高 ,LDH释放减少 (P <0 0 1)。用NEM预处理 ,能完全模拟HP的心肌细胞保护作用 ;而用PTX阻断Gi/o蛋白 ,或Forskolin和 8 Br cAMP预处理后 ,再给予HP及低氧 3h/复氧 1h ,则细胞生存率降低 ,LDH释放增加 (P <0 0 1) ;U 7312 2预处理后 ,细胞生存率和LDH释放量无差异 (P >0 0 5 )。结果提示 :Gi/o蛋白通过抑制AC ,减少第二信使cAMP的生成介导了HP的心肌保护作用。PLC可能不参与HP的心肌保护作用     

丹参对心肌低氧/复氧损伤的保护作用的研究

目的：研究中药丹参（ＳＭ）对心肌低氧／复氧损伤的保护作用。方法：运用＾３１Ｐ－ＮＭＲ技术对离体灌流大鼠心脏的高能磷酸化合物含量及细胞内的ｐＨ值（ｐＨｉ）进行动态跟踪。结果：丹参注射液能明显减轻低氧期间心肌高能磷酸合物含量的下降,促使复氧期间ＰＣｒ、ＡＴＰ相对含量的恢复,减少低氧及复氧阶段心肌ｐＨｉ的下降。结论：丹参参改善低氧及复氧期间心肌能量代谢水平,减轻心肌低氧／复氧损伤,并能显著改善细胞内酸碱     

Dissecting the Heat Stress Response in Chlamydomonas by Pharmaceutical and RNAi Approaches Reveals Conserved and Novel Aspects

To study how conserved fundamental concepts of the heat stress response （HSR） are in photosynthetic eukaryotes, we applied pharmaceutical and antisense/amiRNA approaches to the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The Chlamydomonas HSR appears to be triggered by the accumulation of unfolded proteins, as it was induced at ambient temperatures by feeding cells with the arginine analog canavanine. The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine strongly retarded the HSR, demonstrating the importance of phosphorylation during activation of the HSR also in Chlamydomonas. While the removal of extracellular calcium by the application of EGTA and BAPTA inhibited the HSR in moss and higher plants, only the addition of BAPTA, but not of EGTA, retarded the HSR and impaired thermotoler- ance in Chlamydomonas. The addition of cycloheximide, an inhibitor of cytosolic protein synthesis, abolished the attenu- ation of the HSR, indicating that protein synthesis is necessary to restore proteostasis. HSP90 inhibitors induced a stress response when added at ambient conditions and retarded attenuation of the HSR at elevated temperatures. In addition, we detected a direct physical interaction between cytosolic HSP90A/HSP70A and heat shock factor 1, but surprisingly this interaction persisted after the onset of stress. Finally, the expression of antisense constructs targeting chloroplast HSP70B resulted in a delay of the cell＇s entire HSR, thus suggesting the existence of a retrograde stress signaling cascade that is desensitized in HSP7OB-antisense strains.     

~ffects of endothelial microvesicles induced by A23187 on H9c2 cardiomyocytes

Objective To investigate the effects of endothelial microvesicles （EMVs） induced by calcium ionophore A23187 on H9c2 cardiomyocytes. Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells （HUVECs） were treated with 10 μmol/L A23187 for 30 min. EMVs from HUVECs were isolated by ultracentrifugation from the conditioned culture medium. EMVs were characterized using 1 and 2 Ilm latex beads and anti- PE-CD144 antibody by flow cytometry. For functional research, EMVs at different concentrations were co- cultured with H9c2 cardiomyocytes for 6 h. Cell viability of H9c2 cells and the activity of LDH leaked from H9c2 cells were tested by colorimetry. Moreover, apoptosis of H9c2 cells was observed through Hoechst 33258 staining and tested by FITC-Annexin V/Pl double staining. Results EMVs were induced by A23187 on HUVECs, and isolated by ultracentrifugation. We identified the membrane vesicles （〈 1 μm） induced by A23187 were CD144 positive. In addition, the EMVs could significantly reduce the viability of H9c2 cells, and increase LDH leakage from H9c2 cells in a dose dependent manner （P〈0.05）. Condensed nuclei could be observed with the increasing concentrations of EMVs through Hoechst 33258 staining. Furthermore, increased apoptosis rates of H9c2 cells could be assessed through FITC-Annexin V/PI double staining by flow cytometry. Conclusion Microvesicles could be released from HUVECs after induced by A23187 through calcium influx, and these EMVs exerted a pro-apoptotic effect on H9c2 cells by induction of apoptosis.     

TRPC1 protects dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells from MPP＋, salsolinol,and N-methyl-（R）-salsolinol-induced cytotoxicity

Neurotoxins and alterations in Ca2＋ homeostasis have been associated with Parkinson＇s disease （PD）, but the role of store-operated Ca2＋ entry channels is not well understood. Previous studies have shown the neurotoxicity of salsolinol and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion on SH-SY5Y cells and cytoprotection induced by transient receptor potential protein 1 （TRPC1）. In the present study, N-methyl-（R）-salsolinol was tested for its cellular toxicity and effects on TRPC1 expression. MTT （3-（4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-dipbenyl- tetrazolium bromide） assays, DAPI （4＇,6-diamidino-2-pheny- lindole）, fluorescein isothiocyanate-Annexin-V/propidium iodide, western blot analysis, and JC-1 labeling revealed that the three indicated drugs could induce caspase-dependent, mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. Exposure of SH-SY5Y cells to the indicated drugs resulted in a significant decrease in thapsigargin-mediated Ca2＋ influx and TRPC1 expression. Immnnocytochemistry experiments revealed that neurotoxins treatment induced TRPC1 translocation to the cytoplasm. Taken together, our results indicate that treatment with neurotoxins may alter Ca2＋ homeostasis and induce mitochondrial-mediated caspase-dependent cytotoxicity, an important characteristic of PD.     

Cell Wall,Cytoskeleton, and Cell Expansion in Higher Plants

To accommodate two seemingly contradictory biological roles in plant physiology, providing both the rigid structural support of plant cells and the adjustable elasticity needed for cell expansion, the composition of the plant cell wall has evolved to become an intricate network of cellulosic, hemicellulosic, and pectic polysaccharides and protein. Due to its complexity, many aspects of the cell wall influence plant cell expansion, and many new and insightful observations and technologies are forthcoming. The biosynthesis of cell wall polymers and the roles of the variety of proteins involved in polysaccharide synthesis continue to be characterized. The interactions within the cell wall polymer network and the modification of these interactions provide insight into how the plant cell wall provides its dual function. The complex cell wall architecture is controlled and organized in part by the dynamic intracellular cytoskeleton and by diverse trafficking pathways of the cell wall polymers and cell wall-related machinery. Meanwhile, the cell wall is continually influenced by hormonal and integrity sensing stimuli that are perceived by the cell. These many processes cooperate to construct, maintain, and manipulate the intricate plant cell wall--an essential structure for the sustaining of the plant stature, growth, and life.     

Regulation of Cytokinesis by Exocyst Subunit SEC6 and KEULE in Arabidopsis thaliana

Proper vesicle tethering and membrane fusion at the cell plate are essential for cytokinesis. Both the vesicle tethering complex exocyst and membrane fusion regulator KEULE were shown to function in cell plate formation, but the exact mechanisms still remain to be explored. In this study, using yeast two-hybrid （Y-2-H） assay, we found that SEC6 interacted with KEULE, and that a small portion of C-terminal region of KEULE was required for the interaction. The direct SEC6-KEULE interaction was supported by further studies using in vitro pull-down assay, immunoprecipitation, and in vivo bimolecular florescence complementation （BIFC） microscopy, sec6 mutants were male gametophytic lethal as reported; however, pollen-rescued sec6 mutants （PRsec6） displayed cytokinesis defects in the embryonic cells and later in the leaf pavement cells and the guard cells. SEC6 and KEULE proteins were co-localized to the cell plate during cytokine- sis in transgenic Arabidopsis. Furthermore, only SEC6 but not other exocyst subunits located in the cell plate interacted with KEULE in vitro. These results demonstrated that, like KEULE, SEC6 plays a physiological role in cytokinesis, and the SEC6-KEULE interaction may serve as a novel molecular linkage between arriving vesicles and membrane fusion machin- ery or directly regulate membrane fusion during cell plate formation in plants.     

Redox Regulation of Arabidopsis Mitochondrial Citrate Synthase

Citrate synthase has a key role in the tricarboxylic （TCA） cycle of mitochondria of all organisms, as it cata- lyzes the first committed step which is the fusion of a carbon-carbon bond between oxaloacetate and acetyl CoA. The regulation of TCA cycle function is especially important in plants, since mitochondrial activities have to be coordinated with photosynthesis. The posttranslational regulation of TCA cycle activity in plants is thus far almost entirely unexplored. Although several TCA cycle enzymes have been identified as thioredoxin targets in vitro, the existence of any thioredoxin-dependent regulation as known for the Calvin cycle, yet remains to be demonstrated. Here we have investigated the redox regulation of the Arabidopsis citrate synthase enzyme by site-directed mutagenesis of its six cysteine residues. Our results indicate that oxidation inhibits the enzyme activity by the formation of mixed disulfides, as the partially oxidized citrate synthase enzyme forms large redox-dependent aggregates. Furthermore, we were able to demonstrate that thioredoxin can cleave diverse intraas well as intermolecular disulfide bridges, which strongly enhances the activity of the enzyme. Activity measurements with the cysteine variants of the enzyme revealed important cysteine residues affecting total enzyme activity as well as the redox sensitivity of the enzyme.     

Heteromeric and Homomeric Geranyl Diphosphate Synthases from Catharanthus roseus and Their Role in Monoterpene Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis

Catharanthus roseus is the sole source of two most important monoterpene indole alkaloid （MIA） anti- cancer agents： vinblastine and vincristine. MIAs possess a terpene and an indole moiety derived from terpenoid and shikimate pathways, respectively. Geranyl diphosphate （GPP）, the entry point to the formation of terpene moiety, is a product of the condensation of isopentenyl diphosphate （IPP） and dimethylallyl diphosphate （DMAPP） by GPP synthase （GPPS）. Here, we report three genes encoding proteins with sequence similarity to large subunit （CrGPPS.LSU） and small subunit （CrGPPS.SSU） of heteromeric GPPSs, and a homomeric GPPSs. CrGPPS.LSU is a bifunctional enzyme producing both GPP and geranyl geranyl diphosphate （GGPP）, CrGPPS.SSU is inactive, whereas CrGPPS is a homomeric enzyme forming GPP. Co-expression of both subunits in Escherichia coil resulted in heteromeric enzyme with enhanced activity producing only GPR While CrGPPS.LSU and CrGPPS showed higher expression in older and younger leaves, respectively, CrGPPS.SSU showed an increasing trend and decreased gradually. Methyl jasmonate （MelA） treatment of leaves sig- nificantly induced the expression of only CrGPPS.SSU. GFP localization indicated that CrGPPS.SSU is plastidial whereas CrGPPS is mitochondrial. Transient overexpression of AmGPPS.SSU in C. roseus leaves resulted in increased vindoline, immediate monomeric precursor of vinblastine and vincristine. Although C. roseus has both heteromeric and homomeric GPPS enzymes, our results implicate the involvement of only heteromeric GPPS with CrGPPS.SSU regulating the GPP flux for MIA biosynthesis.     

Organelle pH in the Arabidopsis Endomembrane System

The pH of intracellular compartments is essential for the viability of cells. Despite its relevance, little is known about the pH of these compartments. To measure pH in vivo, we have first generated two pH sensors by combining the improved-solubility feature of solubility-modified green fluorescent protein （GFP） （smGFP） with the pH-sensing capabil- ity of the pHluorins and codon optimized for expression in Arabidopsis. PEpHluorin （plant-solubility-modified ecliptic pHluorin） gradually loses fluorescence as pH is lowered with fluorescence vanishing at pH 6.2 and PRpHluorin （plant- solubility-modified ratiomatric pHluorin）, a dual-excitation sensor, allowing for precise measurements. Compartment- specific sensors were generated by further fusing specific sorting signals to PEpHluorin and PRpHluorin. Our results show that the pH of cytosol and nucleus is similar （pH 7.3 and 7.2）, while peroxisomes, mitochondrial matrix, and plastidial stroma have alkaline pH. Compartments of the secretory pathway reveal a gradual acidification, spanning from pH 7.1 in the endoplasmic reticulum （ER） to pH 5.2 in the vacuole. Surprisingly, pH in the trans-Golgi network （TGN） and mul- tivesicular body （MVB） is, with pH 6.3 and 6.2, quite similar. The inhibition of vacuolar-type H＋-ATPase （V-ATPase） with concanamycin A （ConcA） caused drastic increase in pH in TGN and vacuole. Overall, the PEpHluorin and PRpHluorin are excellent pH sensors for visualization and quantification of pH in vivo, respectively.     

The biology of melanocyte and melanocyte stem cell

The melanocyte stem cells of the hair follicle provide an attractive system for the study of the stem cells. Successful regeneration of a functional organ relies on the organized and timely orchestration of molecular events among dis- tinct stem/progenitor cell populations. The stem cells are regulated by communication with their specialized microenvironment known as the niche. Despite remarkable progress in understanding stem cell-intrinsic behavior, the molecular nature of the extrinsic factors provided to the stem cells by the niche microenvironment remains poorly understood. In this regard, the bulge niche of the mammalian hair follicle offers an excellent model for study. It holds two resident populations of SCs： epidermal stem cells and melanocyte stem cells. While their behavior is tightly coordinated, very little of the crosstaik involved is known. This review summarized the recent development in trying to understand the regulation of melanocyte and melanocyte stem cells. A better understanding of the normal regulation and behaviors of the melanocytes and the melanocyte stem cells will help to improve the clinical applications in regenerative medicine, cancer therapy, and aging.